Universidad de Jaén

Next, the units of the subject are detailed in the following sections:

THEORY AND PROBLEMS

Unit 0. Presentation of the subject

Unit 1. Introduction to digital communication systems.

 1.1 Digital communication systems

1.2 Modulation not using the concept of memory

1.3 Modulation using the concept of memory

1.4 Channel equalization

Unit 2. Spread spectrum communications

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Spread spectrum communications

2.3. Synchronization

2.4. RAKE receiver 

2.5. Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

2.6. Spread spectrum applications

3. Multicarrier communications

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Multicarrier systems

3.3. Characteristics of propagation in mobile radio channels

3.4. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)

3.5. Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM)

3.6. Multicarrier communication standards

 4. Channel coding

4.1 Introduction

4.2. Convolutional codes

4.3. Reed-Solomon codes 

PRACTICES  

- Practice 1. Channel Equalization

- Practice 2. Communications based on Spread Spectrum

- Practice 3. Communications based on multicarrier transmission

SEMINARS

-  Seminar about the use and programming with the software MATLAB.

A1. Lectures with big group of students 

They are based in the explanation of the theory concepts, exercises and practical problems of the course. 

A2. Lectures with practical groups 

They are based on the explanation of the practical units in the lab including the execution by the students and resolution of problems in class. 

The use of electronic devices in classes and exams is forbidden except that they are required for the right develoment of learning activities and always with the authorization of the lecturer.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

At the end of the semester, the student has to choose between two methods of evaluation:   CONTINUOUS EVALUATION or   FINAL EXAM.

1. CONTINUOUS EVALUATION

This assessment method is organised according to the activities described in the following table. The assessment aspects evaluated in both parts and their contribution to the final mark are summarized in the following table:

During the teaching period, it will be evaluated aspects S2 and S3 in a single exam including Unit 1 and Unit 2, while during the official examination period it will be evaluated Unit 3 and Unit 4. The evaluation of the Unit 3 and 4, according to continuous evaluation, will be the same day of the official exam of the subject established by the centre.

Aspect S4 will be evaluated after the completion of each practice of the subject according to the lecturer. The date of such assessments will be set by the lecturer. The evaluation of each practice may be oral, handwritten or using a laboratory computer.

To pass the subject, the student has to get a mark higher or equal than 5.0 out of 10 in the overall result of the evaluated aspects, as long as the student has obtained a mark higher or equal than 4.0 out of 10 in each one of those assessed aspects (S2-S3 and S4). In the event that the mark S4 (obtained throughout the course through continuous evaluation) or the mark S2-S3 of the official exam is lower than 4.0 out of 10, the mark that will appear in the record of the subject will be the minimum mark of the two previous ones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTINUOUS EVALUATION

For those students whose assessment is carried out using continuous evaluation, it will be based on the monitoring and implementation of the activities in the four categories presented in the table above, that make up the total of the evaluable elements of the subject: 
S1: Attendance, 10%. 
S2: Theoretical concepts of matter, 30%. 
S3: Exercises, problems and study cases, 30%. 
S4: Lab/Computer Practices, 30%.

Each of these blocks will be detailed as follows, 

S1. Attendance (10%) 
This aspect will be assessed in terms of attendance at large group and reduced group classes. Failure to collaborate in maintaining a good working environment in the classroom and obstructing the work of the lecturer in any session will result in an attendance mark equals 0. 
If there are activities organized by the Telecommunication Engineering department and have been recommended by the lecturer responsible for the subject, then 75% of the S1 mark will be due to the attendance in class and the remaining 25% will be due to the attendance at all the above activities organized by the Telecommunication Engineering Department and have been recommended by the lecturer responsible of the subject. If there is more than one organized activity, then each activity will have an equal weight within 25% of the S1 mark.

S2. Theoretical concepts (30%) 
The evaluation of the theoretical concepts will be carried out by means of evaluation tests or exercises proposed in class by the lecturer. Each test will be evaluated separately and the student will be able to obtain a mark between 0 and 10 points. The weight of each test in the final evaluation is equal. Thus, a single test will be performed considering together Unit 1 and Unit 2 with a weight of 100%. The mark to be obtained will be between 0 and 10, extrapolating correspondingly to the range between 0% and 30%. This value coincides with the total value of the assessment of the theoretical concepts of the subject.

S3. Exercises, problems and study cases (30%) 
The evaluation of exercises will be carried out through evaluation tests or exercises proposed in class by the lecturer. Each test will be evaluated separately and the student will be able to obtain a mark between 0 and 10 points. The weight of each test in the final evaluation is equal. Thus, a single test will be performed considering together Unit 1 and Unit 2 with a weight of 100%. The mark obtained will be between 0 and 10 points, extrapolating correspondingly to the range between 0% and 30%, coinciding with the total value of the assessment in this section. Each test will be evaluated from 0 to 10 points and the total mark will be the arithmetic mean of all of them, which will be extrapolated to the range between 0% and 30%.

S4. Laboratory or computer practice work (30%) 
The evaluation of the practical concepts will be carried out by means of evaluation tests or exercises proposed in class by the lecturer. Each test will be evaluated separately and the student will be able to obtain a mark between 0 and 10 points. The weight of each test in the final evaluation is equal. Thus, three tests will be carried out corresponding to the MATLAB seminar, Practice 1 and Practice 2 with weights of 33.33%. The mark to be obtained will be between 0 and 10 points, extrapolating correspondingly to the range between 0% and 30%.

2. FINAL EXAM EVALUATION

This type of evaluation is based on  a single written exam that evaluates all aspects of the subject, assessing the knowledge of students' acquisition of all the competences and learning outcomes established in the subject. This exam will take place during the official examination period on a date established by the centre. The parts of the final exam will be weighted in the following way:

- Theoretical concepts (S2) and exercises, problems and study cases (S3): 70%.

- Laboratory and computer practical work (S4): 30%.

In order to pass the subject, the student must have marks higher or equal to 5.0 out of 10 at each part of the final exam. In the event that the S4 mark of the official exam or the S2-S3 mark of the official exam is lower than 5.0 out of 10, the mark that will appear in the record of the subject will be the minimum mark of the two previous ones. 

IMPORTANT: the students who have already fulfil the requirements of aspect S4 through the continuous evaluation, by obtaining a mark higher or equal to 5.0 out of 10 do not have to make this part in the FINAL EXAM evaluation.

Those aspects successfully completed with a mark higher or equal to 5.0 will be considered passing during that academic year.